Hold the Apology

Have you ever received an apology from someone who you knew was not genuinely sorry.

If you could reach into their soul and pull out their true feelings, they would not only take back their apology, but they would laugh in your face. We would consider their apologies insincere.

Here are some for example:

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 587: Hold the Apology

“It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission” (July 4, 2004). [The Herald-Leader of Lexington, Kentucky, apologizing for the forty-year-old policies of the paper to relegate the coverage of sit-ins, marches, and the like to brief mentions in a column called “Colored Notes.”]

“The comment was not meant to be a regional slur. To the extent that it was misinterpreted to be one, I apologize” (October 17, 2003). [Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Taylor, apologizing for referring to potential jurors in the Eastern Kentucky Mountains as “illiterate cave-dwellers.”]

“I really, from the very bottom of my heart, want to apologize for statements I made about Christianity. I did it mainly out of frustration. At one time or another, I’ve offended almost every group. I’m sure I’ll be apologizing again” (June 13, 1990). [CNN founder Ted Turner, apologizing for repeatedly calling Christianity “a religion for losers.”]

The Mode of Communication (v. 27a)

Notice the pathway in which the Lord has made Himself known:

It begins with personal communication.

It moves to a powerful enabling.

It ends with public proclamation.

We ought to covet the hearing of God’s Word because we ought to crave doing God’s Word!

The Momentous Communication (v. 27b)

When people question whether the Bible is the word of God, they are rejecting what the Bible’s claims about itself.

Over 400 times the Bible declares these words, “Thus saith the Lord.”

The phrase appears most often in the book of Ezekiel, over 120 times.

Throughout the book of Ezekiel, you are going to find this common theme:

God’s word is given.

God’s word is rejected.

God brings about the judgment of His word.

God’s word and judgments are done, so the people will know that He is the Lord.

EX: The signature on the stimulus check

The Message Communicated (vs. 27c)

Coming to the last part of this verse requires for us to understand the historical situation of Ezekiel’s day.

The people of Israel, who should be God’s people, are so far gone into idolatry that they are being judged by God with the invasion of the Babylonian army.

There have been two deportations out of the Land already. (605 BC and 597 BC)

A third and final deportation is coming when the temple of Solomon will be destroyed in 586 BC.

Ezekiel’s message that we are about to the people occurs around 593 BC.

The message has divided the people into two distinct groups.

Those who hear (active, participle) - Let them continue hearing (command).

Those who forbear or reject (adjective) - Let them continue forbearing or rejecting (command).

Notice the descriptor of the last group.

Conclusion: Hold the Apology